Author : Thomas Paine
Release : 2009-08
Genre : History
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 702/5 ( reviews)

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Book Synopsis The Political Writings of Thomas Paine by : Thomas Paine

Download or read book The Political Writings of Thomas Paine written by Thomas Paine. This book was released on 2009-08. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1824. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... RIGHTS OF MAN. PART XI. . COMBINING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE. TO M. DE LA FAYETTE. After an acquaintance of nearly fifteen years, in difficult situations in America, and various consultations in Europe, I feel a pleasure in presenting you this small treatise, in gratitude for your services to my beloved America, and as a testimony of my esteem for the virtues, public and private, which I know you to possess. The only point upon which 1 could ever discover that we differed, was not as to principles of government, but as to time. For my own part, I think it equally as injurious to good principles to permit them to linger, as to push them on too fast. That which you suppose accomplishable in fourteen or fifteen years, I may believe practicable in a much shorter period. Mankind, as it appears to me, are always ripe enough to understand their true interest, provided it be presented clearly to their understanding, and that in a manner not to create suspicion by any thing like self-design, nor to offend by assuming too much. Where we would wish to reform we must not reproach. When the American revolution was established, I felt a disposition to sit serenely down and enjoy the calm. It did not appear to me that any object could afterwards arise great enough to make me quit tranquillity, and feel as I had felt before. But when principle, and not place, is the energetic cause of action, a man, I find, is everywhere the same. I am now once more in the public world; and as I have not a right to contemplate on so many years of remaining life as you have, I am resolved to labor as fast as I can; and as I am anxious for your aid and your company, I wish you to hasten your principles and overtake me. If you make a campaign the ensuing spring, which it is most probable t...